UH-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown is a robust university in the country's fourth largest city with over 14,000 students and more than 39,00 alumni. The modern campus is located on the northern edge of Houston's central business district along the Buffalo and White Oak Bayous. Founded in 1974, it is the second largest, four-year, public university in Houston and ranks 33rd nationally for graduating Hispanic and 37th nationally for graduating African-American students with bachelor's degrees.

Led by President William V. Flores, UHD is one of four distinct universities in the University of Houston System. Its non-residential campus attracts students from throughout the Greater Houston area, and the University's diverse student body reflects Houston's wealth of cultures, languages and nationalities. The metropolitan area is home to 24 Fortune 500 companies and many other world-class institutions in the areas of energy, medicine, aerospace, manufacturing, and business services. The University's proximity to downtown provides opportunities for internships at major corporations and enables excellent access to these and other resources including museums, art galleries and professional sport venues.

UHD students pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in five colleges: Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, Public Service, Sciences and Technology, and University College. More than 23000 students graduate from UHD each year. Students at UHD enjoy outstanding faculty, small classes and opportunities to pursue research as undergraduates. The National Science Foundation has recognized UHD's Scholars Academy, an active learning community for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

UHD offers students flexibility in scheduling classes including daytime, evening and weekend options. Students also can choose from face-to-face and online classes as well as hybrid classes that blend the two instruction options. The University also offers classes at UHD Northwest, a new campus located at Lone Star College-University Park in northwest Houston, and Lone Star campuses in Atascocita, Cypress and Kingwood. UHD strives to be responsive to student needs. To that end, the University offers dual credit options at select high schools and dual enrollment programs with community college partners.

Undergraduate Education

Students come to UHD from a variety of backgrounds. Most work full- or part-time while pursuing their degrees and many are the first in their families to attend college. In addition, most UHD students transfer from community colleges or other higher education institutions. UHD offers baccalaureate degrees in 44 disciplines, including signature programs in accounting, finance, insurance and risk management, criminal justice, social work, safety management, fire protection engineering technology, interdisciplinary studies (general education and teaching) and fine arts. Undergraduate students make up 95 percent of the student population, with 94 percent of them coming from the Houston metropolitan area. Half of UHD students attend part-time. Nearly a third of undergraduate classes are taken at night or on the weekends, with another 24 percent taken online. The average age of a UHD undergraduate is 27.

Graduate Education and Research

UHD offers master's degrees in technical communication, non-profit management, security management for executives, criminal justice, teacher education with and without teacher certification, rhetoric and composition, and Master of Business Administration. The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The majority of UHD's graduate students are working professionals who pursue studies on a part-time basis. UHD is committed to undergraduates as well as graduate students participating in research opportunities. UHD's research expenditures were $1.88 million in fiscal year 2013.